THE brother of two police officers, along with an employee of the Mi5 security company, is currently assisting investigators into the theft of 13 guns from the Woodbrook security firm.

Police initially said 15 guns had been stolen, but following a thorough check yesterday, it was concluded that 13 firearms were stolen.

On Monday, a team of officers, led by ASP Don Lezama, raided a bar at Southern Main Road, Couva, where they detained a total of four suspects-two men and two women-and recovered two firearms, believed to be from the batch of stolen guns.

Investigators also went to Coffee Street, San Fernando, where they arrested two other men, one of whom is the brother of two police officers. They also raided a house in Curepe, where six of the stolen guns were recovered.

Police said around 3.15 p.m. on Sunday, two men entered the Mi5 security firm at 40 Alfredo Street, one dressed as a police officer and the other wearing an Mi5 security uniform. They told a female security guard on duty they came to ’drop off something’ and needed to get behind the counter.

The lone security officer who was in the building at the time had no problem letting the men inside, and never asked for identification, investigators said.

When she opened the door and allowed the men behind the counter, it was then that they pulled out a gun, placed it to her head and announced a hold-up. The guard was beaten and tied up before the men made off with the guns-11 nine millimetre pistols, one .357 revolver and a shotgun.

Police also raided the compound of the Jamaat-al-Muslimeen at Mucurapo Road, Port of Spain, as part of their investigation into the missing guns. But the raid has drawn criticism from the organisation, which claimed it was carried out by 100 officers, without anyone being shown a search warrant.

A release from the organisation yesterday stated while members of the Police Service had the right to conduct duties in a lawful manner, invading a citizen’s premises without a warrant and proceeding to kick down doors and windows was unlawful and wrong.

-Gyasi Gonzales